What can I do better this Year?

What can I do better this year? Everyone has an idea, a suggestion. Here's mine.

Practice forgiving others. The guy in traffic who cut you off? Maybe he just got bad news. Maybe he just had a bad day and just wants to get home. Maybe his boss just yelled at him. Maybe he just lost his job - or his house - or his wife. Maybe he’s just a jerk.

The rude cashier? Maybe she’s been on her feet for 8 hours in a concrete-floored big-box-store where everyone has wanted to argue over their outdated coupons. Maybe her kid is sick. Maybe she's sick. Maybe she's struggling with something you'll never know. Maybe she’s just a jerk. But you are not. So say a prayer for him or her and move on. Their rudeness or jerkiness 99.99% of the time has nothing to do with you. Forgive them their bad day, their bad reaction, their bad timing, their bad mood.

Here’s the harder part. Practice forgiving yourself. Maybe you were the jerk today. Apologize if you can. If you can’t, forgive yourself and move on. Maybe you had dessert today when you promised yourself to eat healthier. Forgive yourself and move on to tomorrow. Maybe you forgot a birthday or a project or were just thoughtless. Now you know better. You will do better. Apologize, forgive yourself and move on.

It’s going to be a good year.

You will learn.

You will know better.

You will do better.

You will be better.

Best is good, but better is best.

Love to you all - Val

("When we know better, we do better." - Maya Angelou, "Best is good. Better is best." Lisa Grunwald)